PRESS RELEASES
Disney races to the Heartland with new Truly Moving Picture
June 7, 2006
Indianapolis, IN – Heartland Film Festival® is pleased to announce that Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios’ film “Cars” has joined an elite list of films to receive Heartland’s Truly Moving Picture Award.
"'Cars' is a delightful family film that not only has groundbreaking animation, but an important message," said Jeffrey L. Sparks, president of the Heartland Film Festival. "Heartland is most proud to honor this Disney/Pixar collaboration with our Truly Moving Picture Award."
Pixar (“The Incredibles,” “Finding Nemo,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and Academy Award®-winning director John Lasseter (“Toy Story,” “Toy Story 2,” “A Bug’s Life”) hit the road with a comedy adventure set inside the world of cars. Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship race in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's characters – including Sally (Bonnie Hunt), a snazzy 2002 Porsche; Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), a 1951 Hudson Hornet with a mysterious past; and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), a rusty but trusty tow truck. Together, they help Lightning realize there’s more to life than trophies, fame and sponsorship. Fueled with plenty of humor, action, heartfelt drama and amazing new technical feats, “Cars” is a high octane delight for moviegoers of all ages. This quintessential summer film opens nationwide on Friday, June 9.
“Cars” joins other 2006 recipients “Glory Road,” “Nanny McPhee,” “Saving Shiloh,” “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days,” “Take the Lead” and “Tsotsi.” Forty-four (44) films have been honored since the Award’s inception in 2000. To view Heartland’s complete list of Truly Moving PicturesSM, visit www.TrulyMovingPictures.org.
Heartland created the Truly Moving Picture Award as a way to honor theatrically-released films that demonstrate the Heartland purpose with excellence, inspiring and enriching lives. Submissions are received directly from studios and producers for consideration. Since the industry decides a film’s success based on the opening weekend box office, Heartland encourages audiences to attend a Truly Moving Picture on its first weekend.
Heartland Film Festival will celebrate 15 years of honoring Truly Moving Pictures during the annual Festival, October 19-27, 2006 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Visit www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org to learn more about Heartland and this year’s anniversary celebration.
Heartland Film Festival, a non-profit organization, was established in 1991 to recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life. Each October, Heartland screens Truly Moving Pictures from around the world and presents cash prizes and Crystal Heart Awards to the Festival’s top entries. In 2006, Heartland will increase its total prize money to $200,000. This includes doubling its Grand Prize for Best Dramatic Feature to $100,000 and two new awards: a $25,000 cash prize for Best Documentary Feature and a $10,000 cash prize for Best Short Film. The remaining $65,000 will be shared among the 2006 Crystal Heart and Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award winners. The Crystal Heart Award cash prizes are made possible by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. and the Max Simon Charitable Foundation. Including the 2006 prize money, Heartland will have awarded more than $1.6 million in 15 years to support filmmakers in their quest to create Truly Moving Pictures.
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